Zvikomborero Parafini
A TEENAGE Lomagundi College student allegedly stole his dad’s firearm and then used it to carry a movie-style robbery.
On August 22, the father of the boy (17), who is not being named because he is a juvenile, asked him to load a pressure washer into his vehicle so that he could drive to his farm.
The boy noticed his father’s brown leather bag, containing a Revolver Astra Magnum, Calibre 357 loaded with six live rounds of ammunition, at the back of the driver’s seat.
He stole the firearm and gave it to an accomplice, who is still on the run.
The father drove to his farm in Ruwa and, upon arrival, realised that his gun was missing and made a report at ZRP Epworth.
The student collaborated with a group of friends to lure two salesmen, Tinashe Albert Bhamu and Howard Mudzamiri, using Instagram, with the intention of robbing them of their phones.
They gave their location and Bhamu and Mudzamiri drove to the given location in Braeside.
The robbers approached their vehicle and pulled out the gun and demanded the cellphones.
After the dealers failed to comply, one of the robbers fired a shot, injuring the driver and causing the car to crash, when they tried to drive off.
The gang then stole several iPhones from the dealers before fleeing on foot.
As they got to Nettleton Primary School, they saw girl on her way from school, and in movie-style, one of the robbers pointed the gun at the girl’s head, threatening to shoot her if the pursuing mob got any closer.
The mob stopped at a distance and the robber fired one warning shot into the air and they ran away.
Investigations revealed that the student was involved in the robbery and he was arrested.
He then led the police to the recovery of one of the stolen cellphones and the firearm.
He was charged with theft and robbery and appeared before Harare regional magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa who released him into his mother’s custody, as he is a juvenile.
The student was not asked to enter a plea.
Pardon Dziva prosecuted.